Category Archives: Indian Cinema

The Lotus Post

Posted on 31/01/2013 by Anu M

There are plenty of representations of the lotus in Indian art, more often than not religious iconography. Here is a (non religious) selection. Additional posts on the choli and nihonga paintings of Indian women can also be sampled on tumblr.

Posted in Flowers, Indian Cinema, Paintings, Photography, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Travancore Sisters

Posted on 20/01/2013 by Anu M

The Travancore Sisters were a famous dancing trio and one of them, Padmini, was a major star in South Indian cinema and also acted in Hindi films. Betsy Woodman’s family lived next door to the sisters and her blog is full of fascinating details about both … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Actor, Dancer, Indian Cinema, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Indian Flapper

Posted on 01/12/2012 by Anu M

  I didn’t do this post for awhile because I wasn’t able to locate any good pictures, apart from the usual ones of Devika Rani circulating on tumblr, though of course I have posted on fashions of the 20s and 30s. So this post … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920s, 1930s, Cinema, fashion, Indian Cinema, Old Bollywood, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Historical Drama – Manthiri Kumari

Posted on 27/11/2012 by Anu M

The full Madras cinema treatment (i.e. also not very accurate) for a film adaptation (Manthiri Kumari) of the Tamil Buddhist classic, Kundalakesi. The attire includes a short embellished tunic (with a good degree of frills) and a jewelled belt for the leading lady. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Buddhism, Costume, Indian Cinema, Period Drama, Romance, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Historical Drama – Chitralekha

Posted on 27/11/2012 by Anu M

A few more posts on modern interpretations of Ancient Indian Costume where the productions depart from fidelity to historical costume, either because the production follows the norms of popular Indian cinema or modern theatre. The full Bollywood treatment (i.e. vaguely accurate) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Bollywood, Hinduism, Indian Cinema, Old Bollywood, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Light of Asia/Prem Sanyas

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

mudwerks: Seeta Devi, 1925 (by pictosh) You can see an example of the breast band in The Light of Asia/Prem Sanyas. The film is about the life of Gautama Buddha with Seeta Devi playing the Buddha’s wife. There are a number of stills at memsaab’s site, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Buddhism, Costume, Indian Cinema, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Amrapali

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Vyjayanthimala in the film on the life of Amrapali, the Licchavi courtesan who converted to Buddhism. Bhanu Athaiya (who also designed for Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam and later won an Oscar for Gandhi) apparently based the costumes on Buddhist frescoes, though in the frescoes (as in the statues … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Buddhism, Costume, Indian Cinema, Old Bollywood, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Conrad Rooks’ Siddhartha

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Under black hair, which made to tower high on her head, he saw a very fair, very delicate, very smart face, a brightly red mouth, like a freshly cracked fig, eyebrows which were well tended and painted in a high … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Buddhism, Indian Cinema, Literature, Movies, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Utsav/Mṛcchakaṭika

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Your garment’s border, red and fair, Is all a-shiver in the air; Another courtesan, this time the fabulous Rekha playing Vasantasena in the film adaptation of Mṛcchakaṭika (The Little Clay Cart). The garment is in fact red in the movie and given Vasantasena’s wealth, she wears … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Indian Cinema, Period Drama, Romance, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Santosh Sivan’s Asoka

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Santosh Sivan’s epic film of the Mauryan King, Asoka, surprisingly sticks to a simple, subdued palette and body decoration for the princess Kaurwaki. Again not quite the choli but perhaps a sewn breast band. And the film it appears is fairly authentic in terms of plot.

Posted in Ancient India, India, Indian Cinema, Indian History, Period Drama, Romance, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment